SMB opens Grand Slam bid anew
Credit to Author: EDDIE G. ALINEA| Date: Sun, 04 Aug 2019 16:14:08 +0000
San Miguel Beer takes advantage anew of a chance to win a second franchise Grand Slam the Beermen failed to accomplish the past four seasons when they battle Talk ‘N Text for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup that started on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Winning the pro-league’s 44th Season’s opening tournament Philippine Cup two months ago set the stage for the Beermen to accomplish the feat their 1989 predecessor’s attained 30 years ago.
Coach Leo Austria’s Beermen , too, had the same chance successively in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, but failed, losing in their bid to survive the succeeding Conferences that followed, the otherwise known as the All-Filipino Cup, in those years.
SMBeer emerged triumphant in the 2017 Commish Cup at the expense of, who else but the the TNT KaTropa, only to lose in the season-ending Governors’ Cup won by sister team Barangay Ginebra.
Why, the Beermen didn’t even make it to the Final Four, bowing to the Gin Kings in the quarterfinal round.
And by co-incidence, standing in front of the Beermen in the finals of this, the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup, are the KaTropa, the same team they beat for the second conference jewel two years ago.
This will be just the fourth time that San Miguel and Talk ‘N Text will meet for a conference championship. The Beermen had won three of the four clashes.
Besides the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup, SMBeer, then carrying the banner of Petron, likewise, snatched the crown from the Tropang Texters in the 2010-2011 Governors’ Cup and the 2004-2005 Fiesta Conference.
San Miguel Beer, so far, is the winningest team in the 44 years of the country’s and Asia’s pioneering pro-league being the only remaining original franchise that abandoned their amateur status in 1975 to organize the PBA.
The Beermen currently lead the league with the most titles won at 25 and the most all-time victories (more than 1,200 wins). In addition, it has won the Grand Slam in 1989.
They earned the Perpetual Jun Bernardino Trophy for winning three straight PBA Philippine Cups from 2015 to 2017.
SMB had won the distinct honor as the first professional basketball team in the world ever to come back from a 0–3 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series which they did during the 2015–16 Philippine Cup Finals over Alaska Milk.
TNT is the top-seed team in this Conference ending its campaign with a superior 10-1 win-loss elimination round record, including 110-97 beating it dealt SMB.
The Beermen, though, had Chris Rhodes and not Chris McCullough, who has been key to his team’s late-tournament run.
Amid this backdrop, it would appear the Beermen have the edge in championship experience although some experts believe KaTropa can more than make up for this disadvantage with their youth.
Changes in the coaching staff can also make the difference. SMB’s Austria has been responsible for the past six of the Beermen’s title run, including five All-Filipino.
Rookie mentor Bong Ravena is calling the shots for the Katropa but is ably assisted by consultant Mark Dickel, who often presides the team huddle during time outs.
Both teams possess of hard-working imports – Terence Jones for the Katropa and McCullough for the Beermen.